Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, has died in an air crash while on an official trip to Kaduna State, multiple media reports said.
The identity of the other officers and aides on the ill-fated aircraft are not yet known.
The Nigerian Air Force, in a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed one of its aircraft crashed on Friday near Kaduna International Airport.
The statement said: “An air crash involving a @NigAirForce aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport.
“The immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained. More details to follow soon.”
Reacting, top journalist, Babajide Otitoju, wrote on Twitter: “Goodbye my friend, Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, our new chief of army staff. This is so difficult to take, so devastating. RIP good man”.
Femi Fani-Kayode also wrote: “The Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces, General Attahiru Ibrahim, has been killed in an air crash together with a number of his officers and aides. This is a monumental tragedy and a big blow to our nation. May their souls rest in peace & may God help Nigeria”.
